The Friends of Manassas National Battlefield Park

On a hot July day in 1861 two great armies from north and south came together for the first time on the fields overlooking a stream called Bull Run. The naive unprepared troops would soon have their hopes of a short war dashed, as they came face to face with the horrors and carnage of war. By the day's end nearly 900 men lay dead and dying on what the day before had been the peaceful farms of Northern Virginia.

Thirteen months later the same armies, now much larger and battle hardened, would again clash over the same ground. This time, the destruction would be far greater, over 23,000 killed, missing or wounded. The outcome of the second battle would lead to the southern army's first full scale invasion across the Potomac River into Maryland.

A Welcome from our Vice President
The Friends of Manassas Battlefield
06-10-05 The Friends Who we are
05-25-05 Our Projects What we are doing
05-25-05 Join Now Membership application
05-25-05 Editorial Traffic in the Park
 
The Manassas Battlefield
03-17-08 Battlefield Hours, fees, events & more
08-20-08 Anniversaries for 2008 (PDF)
05-25-05 Park Maps Modern, Historical, Equestrian
07-21-05 Bookstore & Film Eastern Nat'l at MNBP
  Major Issues
 
Battlefield Bypasses
07-27-05 Bypasses Maps and overview
06-21-05 Position Statement Policies and strategy
07-12-05 Logic Bypass Issues
 
Ed Bearss' Corner
Chief Historian Emeritus of the National Park Service
06-08-08 2 days, Edwin C. Bearss Oct 6-7, 2008
02-20-10 First Manassas Audio Tracks
 
Calendar
09-06-02 Calendar Regional events
Partnered Sites
The Friends of Chinn Park Library
Beverley Mill historic site
Benlomond Manor House historic site
 
Historical Resources
08-21-02 Manassas Battlefield Official NPS site
07-20-06 Local Museums & Historic Sites
05-25-05 Historical Preservation & Government
07-15-08 Living History Civil War Reenactors
 
Annie Snyder Memorial Web Site
04-11-03 Stonewall Annie Official Site
 
Natural Resources
05-25-05 Birds of Manassas Battlefield
 
Regional Resources
05-25-05 Food & Lodging
05-25-05 Cultural Sites
 
Your Comments & Inquiries
The Friends' position statements and opinions found on this site are the sole responsibility of the Friends of Manassas National Battlefield Park, and do not reflect the policies or positions of the National Park Service, or of any other government agency, or of any other organization.
Announcements

Dear Friends of Manassas National Battlefield Park

It is with great sadness that we must inform you that our friend and vice president, Harvey Simon passed away after a short illness on Sunday, January 18, 2009.

Harvey was a charter member of The Friends of Manassas National Park. He organized the annual tour of Civil War battlefields, working closely with Ed Bearss and local tour guides to provide high-quality content in a very comfortable setting. He was an active liaison between many local and Civil War groups, through his personal interests in history, horses, and helping others.

Harvey was outspoken in defending the park from the threats of inappropriate development nearby, including the potential impact of new highway construction that might damage the park experience. Harvey did not shy from speaking his mind, as many elected and appointed officials can verify. His love and concern for the heritage of the Manassas National Battlefield Park was always clear.

Harvey loved to talk about the Civil War and his animals, especially his horse, Sonny and German Shepherd, Buddy. For years, many of us have worked with him, and know that we have lost not only a dedicated volunteer, but also a friend.

Harvey is survived by his former wife, Grace; two sons, Douglas and John; and a daughter, Jane Hall.

Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate his life on Saturday, January 31st at 2:30 PM at the Montcastle Funeral Home, 4143 Dale Blvd., Dale City, VA 22193. Interment will be private.

The family requests that friends honor his memory through a donation to one of the organizations in which he was a member, activist, and avid supporter:

The Friends of the Manassas Battlefield Park
P O Box 2847
Manassas, VA 20108

The Friends of Chinn Regional Park Library
Attn: Connie Gilman, Branch Administrator
13065 Chinn Park Drive
Woodbridge, VA 22192

Cards and correspondence can be mailed to the family in care of:
Mr. and Mrs. John Simon
6146 Roxbury Ave.
Springfield, VA 22152

THE FRIENDS WELCOME PATC TO THE MNBP FAMILY
In April 2008, the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) entered into a partnership agreement with the Manassas National Battlefield Park to assist in the development and maintenance of the over 30 miles of hiking/interpretive trails currently located within the park boundaries. Emphasis will be placed on improvements to trail marking system, improvements in trail tread and supporting the park in the event of major storm damage. The Battlefield Equestrian Society (BES) will be working closely with PATC and will continue providing support for the over 20 miles of bridle trails in the park.

A volunteer-based organization, headquartered in Vienna, Virginia. The PATC was founded in 1927 by the men and women who planned and built the Appalachian Trail. With the help of over 6000 volunteers, the club now manages more than 1,200 miles of hiking trails in the Mid-Atlantic region, along with cabins, shelters, and hundreds of acres of conserved land.

PATC volunteers contribute tens of thousands of hours of volunteer service every year. Volunteers maintain trails, cabins, and shelters, teach Leave No Trace principles to hikers and backpackers, publish maps and guidebooks, and help manage a busy headquarters operation. In addition to volunteer opportunities, the club offers a busy calendar of recreational events, including hikes, excursions, cross-country ski weekends, and mountaineering trips.

Visit the PATC website.

FIRST MANASSAS AUDIO TAPES
We invite you to relive First Manassas with Ed Bearss, the eminent Chief Historian Emeritus of the National Park Service on these unique RealMedia audio files.

DAVIS TRACT ACQUISITION
136 Historic Acres Preserved for Posterity. Review the history of the Davis Tract purchase. Visit the Davis Tract Plaque Ceremony.
Web site by Frank Harrell
Last update 01-20-09